Paul writes in Romans 8.29 that we are predestined to be conformed to the image, or likeness, of Christ. There are numerous similar comments in the NT, from Paul and Peter and John. This is a key issue. As I have tried to set out below, the ‘goal’ for the Christian is maturity or completeness, which is the very image of Jesus Christ, the ultimate human.
In one of his earliest letters, to the Churches in Galatia, Paul was perplexed at the cooling of their love for Christ, and for him! He reminds them of his commitment to them, ‘until Christ is formed in you’ (Gal 4.19).
The ‘prison epistles’ are each focussed on this same goal.
Eph 4.11-13 describes gifts, given by the risen Christ to the Church, ‘so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.’
In Phil 3.12-14, Paul underlines his own journey; ‘I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.’ He is writing as a fellow traveller to the goal of maturity, and he too was pressing on to that goal.
In Col 1.28-29, Paul proclaimed Christ (as he had in v15-23), in order to present everyone perfect (mature) in Christ.
He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Whilst preparing these notes, a friend quoted 2 Peter 1.3-8, asking about this goal. Peter shares Paul’s ambition. We are called to escape the corruption of this world, and to pursue those godly qualities, and in increasing measure.
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Finally, John refers to Christ’s return; ‘Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.’ (1 John 3.2-3) Our future state is guaranteed; in response, we ‘purify’ ourselves, just as He is pure. John uses the phrase ‘as He’ a few times. Our goal is to be ‘as He,’ to walk as Jesus walked, to live and speak as Jesus did.
The root Greek word is TELEO, a verb, meaning to accomplish or finish or perform. Vine’s Expository Dictionary lists its associated words being translated into English as: consecrate, perfect, fulfil, end, amongst others. Thus, the TELEOS, the end goal is maturity or completeness. Tom Wright’s Virtue Reborn is an excellent book comprehensively explaining this principle. 